Signal light



' 1, J. E. wooo SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Feb.19, 192s 2Sheets-5heet 1 May 3, 1927.

INVENTOR QIE. wood ATTORNEY 'J. E. \NOQD SIGNAL LIGHT May 3, 1927. 1,626,710

' Filed Feb. 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JEZUaod BY M r650,

ATTORNEYS Patented May 3, 1927.

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JOSEPH E. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES A. TERREL AND ONE-EIGHTH T ALICE 1VI 'WAGNER, BO'ZEIEII OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISQ SIGNAL LIGHT;

Application filed February My invention relates to improvements in signal lights, and it consists in the comblnations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a signal light which is especially adapted for vehicles, but which can be used at street corners, building exits, etc.

A further object of my invention 1s to provide a device of the type described which takes the place of a tail light, a stop light, and parking lights, and which has novel means for changing from a clear signal to a warning signal. 1

A further object of my'invention is to provide a device of the type described which is thoroughly etiicient and durable for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

My invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this application, in which 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a vehicle,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device in normal position,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device showing the stop signal,

Figure & is a section along the line H oi Figure 2,

Figure is a fragmentary view of the device,

lfi igure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a plan view ofa portion or the device, and

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram. In carrying out my invention, I provide a cup-shaped casing 1 mounted upon a suitable support, such as the chassis 2, by means of a bracket 3. The casing 1 is provided with lugs & upon which a .movable disc 5 is placed. The movable disc 5 has a relatively large opening 6 therein and, a plurality of smaller openings 7 and 8 disposed around the opening 6. A relatively'large red lens 9 is placed within the opening .6 and smaller red lenses 10 are placed Within the openings 7. A plurality of green lensesll are placed within the openings 8. The disc 5 is spaced away from the casing 1 by means of leaf,

springs 12. A socket 13 is secured to the 19, 1926. Serial no. 89,348.

with an annular I flange 15. A cover plate 16 is disposed within the casing adjacent the disco, its peripheral edge resting upon the flange 15. The

cover plate 16 is preterablymade of glass having an opaque sheet '17 secured to' one surface thereof. The sheet 17 is provided with a, large opening 18 and. smaller openings 19. The cover plate 16 is heldwithin the casing 1 by means of a clamp 20 and is prevented from .rotative ,movement by means of a bur 21. l

i The disc 5 ispositioned within the casing 1 in such a manner that one green lens will be at the top, another at the bottom, and one at each side thereof. The disc is held in this position by means of atensionspring 22, one end of which is secured to the disc at 23 and to the lug 1", as shown in Figure 6. The disc 5 is limited in its movement by a projection 24. The means for moving the disc consists of a Wire 25 secured at one end to the disc, as'nat 26, and at the other end to a tension spring 27. l The free end of the tension sprin'g'27 is secured to the brake rod 28. The. brake rod 28 is operatively connected to the brake pedal 29;

The casing 1 is provided With an opening through which rays of light :may be pro jected upona license plate, not shown. A

pair of lenses are placed oneon each side or the casing 1 a'ndrigldly secured thereto. The purpose of these. lenses is to serve as parking lights.

.From thetoregoing description of the" various parts "of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. In Figure 8, I have shown a Wiring diagram. I have'showna source of current, as at B, a switch S, and a conductor C. lVhen the device is applied to a'vehicle, the current flows from the source of current through a Wire 31, through the switch S, when closed, through a wire 32, and through'the lightfila back to the source of current'B; This shows the path of the current When thedevice is used on a vehicle at night. f

At night, the circuit is closed to con tiuously project ratysot light through the lens 9, constitutinga stop light, and through the lenses 11, constituting clear signals. In the daytime, however, the taillight is not needed and the switch S is opened, thus breaking the circuit.

ing signal when the driver of the vehicle inte'nds to stopv or slow down. The means for closing the'clr'cuit for flashing a warning signal at any desired time consists the pressing down of the brake pedal 29, the lower end thereof contacting with the conductor O, thus closing the circuit.

The purpose ofthe lens 9 is to constitute a tail light when the circuit is closed. The lenses 11 constitute a clear signal when the circuit is closed. By the word clear I mean that thetraflic or the right-of-way 'is clear ahead.- The lenses 10, upon which I have shown the lettersS T O P, consti- 5is rotated in the directionof the arrow 33 until the projection '24 strikes the lug 4a.

In this movement, the clear lenses are hidden behind the cover plate 16, and the lenses 10 are brought in alignment with the openings 19. Thedisc is held in this position until the brake pedal 29 is released. The disc 5 will again be returned to normal position by means of the tension spring 22. The purpose of the springs 12 is to allow the disc '5 to move easily, and 'to prevent it from rattling; At the lower portion of the casing 1,

I have shownan opening for the purpose of allowing raysof light to. project upon a license plate, or the like.

It will be observed that the device can beused upon street corners for indicating the traflic to stop or go. When the device is so used, the switch S is constantly closed, the

device normally. indicating a clear signal. When it is desired to flash a stop signal, the wire 25 is pulled downwardly, thus swinging the greenlens in back of the cover plate and the red lens in alignmentwith the open ings 19. I

. I claim:

1. A device of the type described com- I prising a casinghaving a source of light disposedtherein, a CllSC, clear signals disposed in. said disc, warning signalsdispo'sed between said clear signals in-said disc, a cover plate disposed adjacent to said disc normally allowing the rays'of light to project clear I signals therethrough and to hide the warning signal, and means for automatically moving said disc, whereby the clear signals The purpose of the device in the day-time is to flash a warn-.

will be hidden by said cover plate, thus allowing the rays of light to project warn ing signals therethrough. 1

2. A device of the type described comprising a casing having a source of light disposed therein, a disc containing a lens constituting a tail light, a lens constituting a clear signal, and a lens constituting a warning signal, means for continuously projecting rays of light through said first and said second named lenses, and means. for automatically moving said disc for causing the rays of light to project through said third named lens and not said second named lens.

A device of the type described comprising a casing having a source of light disposed therein, .a disc, clear signals disposed in said disc, warning signals disposed be tween said clear signals in said disc, a colored lens constituting a tail light carried by said di a cover plate disposed adjacent to said discnormally allowing the rays of light to project clear signals therethrough and to hide the warning signals, said plate allowing the rays of light to project throughsaid colored lens, and means for automatically moving said disc, whereby the clear signals will be hidden by said plate, thus allowing the rays of light to project warning signals therethrough. I

4:. A device of the type described comprising a casing having a source of light disiii) posed therein, a disc having clear and warning signals disposed therein, a colored lens I constituting a tail lightcarrie d by said disc, a cover plate disposed adjacent to said disc normally allowing the rays of light to project clear signals therethrough and to hide the warning signals, said plate allowing the raysv of light to project through said colored lens, means for automatically moving said disc, whereby the clear signals will be hidden by said plate, thus allowing the rays of light to project warning signals therethrough, and means for returning said disc into normal position.

5. A device of the type described comprising a casing having a source of light disposed therein, a disc, clear signals disposed 11 1 a circuitous path in said disc, warning s gnals disposed between each of said clear s gnals, a colored lens constituting a tail light disposed in the center of said disc, a cover plate disposed adjacent said disc normally allowing the rays of light to project clear signals therethrough and to hide the warning signals, said plate allowing the rays of light to project through said colored lens, and means for automatically moving said disc, whereby the clear signals will be hidden by saidplate, thus allowingthe raysof light to project warning signals therethrough.

JOSEPHE. WOOD.

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